Natalie Phillips: 2026 Site Support Employee of the Year
Corona, CA - Natalie Phillips, CNUSD’s 2026 Site Support Employee of the Year, brings passion, movement, and heart to everything she does. Born and raised in upstate New York, Natalie’s lifelong love of sports and physical activity began early. A former collegiate athlete, she has always embraced an active lifestyle that continues to shape both her career and her personal life.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Natalie headed west to California for graduate school, a move that ultimately led her to a fulfilling career in education. Nearly 20 years later, she is proud to be living her dream as an Adapted Physical Education teacher with CNUSD.
Natalie’s CNUSD journey is rooted in teamwork, connection, and inclusion. She thrives on collaborating with school staff and families to create welcoming, supportive environments where every student feels valued and empowered. Working with students of all ages brings her immense joy, especially as she helps them build motor skills, confidence, friendships, and a strong sense of belonging through sports and movement. Seeing students encourage one another and grow together, she says, is “energizing, meaningful, and pure magic.”
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys teaching yoga, gardening, traveling, crafting, and spending quality time with family, friends, and as many dogs as possible. She’s a fan of pink, green juice, spaghetti, yoga workouts, and sweet treats like chocolate-and-peanut-butter ice cream and classic chocolate chip cookies. A loyal sports fan, Natalie proudly cheers for the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Natalie is deeply grateful for a career that keeps her moving, fills her heart, and continually reminds her why she loves what she does, and CNUSD is proud to celebrate her well-deserved recognition.